We’re sorry, the demand for solar eclipse glasses has been greater than we could have imagined. The library does not have any glasses left to distribute to the public. Staff will have glasses for people to share at the library’s Eclipse Viewing Party on August 21, but only in a limited number.

A total solar eclipse will take place in the Midwest on Monday, August 21 from 11:30 to 2:30, with totality beginning at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 1:05.* This is the first total eclipse to be visible in the U.S. since 1978.

The Manhattan community is invited to a free “Eclipse Viewing Party” at Manhattan Public Library, located at 629 Poyntz Avenue, from noon to 4:00 p.m. on August 21. Participants can view the partial eclipse outdoors using free safety glasses provided by STAR_net, or relax indoors and watch live video of the total eclipse as it passes over North America. You can also pick up free glasses at any of the events below, while supplies last.

In addition to the viewing party, the library is offering two free programs leading up to the big event.

On Tuesday, August 8 at 2:00 p.m., kids in kindergarten through sixth grade can “Get Ready for the Solar Eclipse.” Kids will learn about the eclipse and explore information about astronomy. They will also craft an eclipse viewer to take home.

Then on Thursday, August 10 at 11:00 a.m., preschool-aged kids can hear stories about the stars and planets at the “Solar System Storytime.”

Librarians will also be available to visit about the eclipse at the Flint Hills Discovery Center’s Community Day on Saturday, August 6 from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Anyone interested in learning more about the eclipse, astronomy, or the solar system should explore the many resources available at Manhattan Public Library.

These solar eclipse programs are made possible by a grant secured by STAR_net Science-Technology Activities & Resources for Libraries and funding from Manhattan Library Association. All programs at the library are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at (785) 776-4741 or www.MHKLibrary.org, or visit 629 Poyntz Avenue.

*Time estimates are based on information from NASA for the Lincoln, NE area, which is the closest location where the total eclipse can be observed.

MANHATTAN, KS—In February and March, the Manhattan Public Library will partner with the K-State English Department to bring a series of modern Shakespeare events to the Manhattan community. All of the programs are planned, performed, and executed by K-State students as part of the grant for the Shakespeare’s First Folio project. The public is welcome and tickets are not required for any of the events.

Film Screening
6:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 14
Manhattan Public Library
Watch an award-winning film on the big screen in full surround, while you contemplate the history of young Shakespeare and who may have served as his muse. A student-led discussion will follow.

Vinegar Girl Discussion
6:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15
Manhattan Public Library
Discuss Anne Tyler’s Vinegar Girl—a delightful retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, updated to current times. Familiarity with the original play is not necessary to participate. Copies of Tyler’s book are on reserve at Hale Library and Manhattan Public Library and may be checked out before or after the event.

“Shakespeare and the Military”
6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 1
Manhattan Public Library
Students will lead a discussion based on video clips and passages from Shakespeare’s works. Special emphasis will be placed on text from the war play Henry V. Prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays is not required for participation.

Nutshell
6:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
Manhattan Public Library
Explore the dark comedy of Ian McEwan’s Nutshell. This suspenseful and comedic spinoff of Hamlet, casts Hamlet as a fetus overhearing the plans to murder his father.

“Still Dreaming”
6:30 p.m., Friday, March 10
Meadowlark Retirement home
Watch the documentary film “Still Dreaming,” then join the discussion about an amateur, retirement home production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

To check out the books and learn more about the event series, visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue or Hale Library on the K-State Campus. Information is also available through the K-State Department of English website at https://www.k-state.edu/english/.

Thursday, February 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. the Manhattan Public Library will be transformed into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to celebrate the popular Harry Potter book series. Families of all ages are invited to play games, make crafts, and enjoy an evening of wizarding fun.

Librarian Gigi Holman says “we hope to make this a magical evening in the Harry Potter world. The books helped multiple generations learn to love reading, so we’ll make sure to have activities for everyone from preschoolers to parents.”

At the event, partners from the Milford Lake Nature Center will contribute to the magical atmosphere by bringing a live owl. Participants will be sorted into houses, visit Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and get to sample some potions and treats.

Volunteers are needed to help with activities that evening. Anyone interested in helping out from 5:30-8:30 on February 2 should contact Vivienne at pr@mhklibrary dot org or (785) 776-4741 ext.105.

All events and activities at the library are free and open to the public. For more information about the event, or about any library services, please visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue or call (786) 776-4741.

From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, everyone who brings a non-perishable food item to the Manhattan Public Library will receive a $1 voucher to pay library fines. Vouchers will be good throughout the month of December, with a maximum of 10 vouchers per person. All of the donated food will be given to the Flint Hills Bread Basket to help combat food insecurity in Manhattan.

Library Director, Linda Knupp, championed the idea as “a way to promote good will during the holidays and give back to the community.”

The following items will not be accepted:
No expired items
No damaged items
No open packages
Ramen noodles (and other multi-pack items) will be accepted at a value of 4 packages = $1

Volunteers from the Manhattan Library Association will be in the library’s atrium to accept donations and issue vouchers. For more information, please contact the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, (785) 776-4741 ext. 100.

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is located at 905 Yuma Street. It was founded in 1983 as a Community Food Network to collect and distribute food to those in need. Their food pantry is open Monday – Thursday from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. and Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to distribute food. To see the complete schedule for the Breadbasket, visit www.breadbasket.manhattanks.org or call (785) 537-0730.

Books Galore at the Library’s Annual Book Sale

The Manhattan Library Association’s (MLA) Annual Book Sale will be held the last weekend in February in the auditorium of the Manhattan Public Library, located at 629 Poyntz Avenue. A special preview night is open to MLA Members on Friday, February 26 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Memberships will be sold at the door starting at $10 for an individual, and $15 for families.

The library’s book sale will be open to the public on Saturday, February 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 28, from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Sunday prices will reflect special deals on the remaining materials.

Bargains abound at this annual sale with:

Hardcover books $1.50

Children’s hardcover books $1.00

Softcover books (trade paperbacks) $1.00

Mass market paperbacks for children or adults 50 cents

DVDs $2

CDs $1

Audiobooks on CD $4

Audiobooks on cassette $1.00

Vinyl 25 cents

Sheet music 25 cents

Coffee table and specialty books priced as marked.

All of the money raised will be used to fund library programs and purchases such as new books and furniture, special events for children, and summer reading programs. In 2015, $10,400 was raised to support the library.

This is truly a community event, staffed by wonderful volunteers like Roger Brannan,

Doug Schoning, Elaine Shannon, Wilma Schmeller, and Carol Oukrop, who devote countless hours of work to organize the sale. Helpers from JobCorps, Rotarct, and the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity make the heavy-lifting much easier, and community supporters like Dara’s, the Manhattan Mercury, and Community First National Bank do an excellent job getting the word out.

For more information about the book sale, or if you would like to volunteer to help, visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue or call (786) 776-4741.

When is it alright to hurl Shakespearean insults at a professor while visiting the public library? Only on Saturday, February 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the Shakespeare Faire for all ages at the Manhattan Public Library.

As part of the city-wide celebration of Shakespeare and his works while the First Folio is in town, the Manhattan Public Library is partnering with K-State to host a full day of fun and festivities. Visitors can come and go at this all-day event, and should feel free to wear their best tights.

The ruckus kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with a workshop led by Melissa Poll, from the K-State School of Music, Theater, and Dance, who will teach kids, teens, and adults how to give a great insult, Shakespearean style. Participants will get to hoot and holler and yell out phrases like “You scullion! You rampallian! Thou art as loathsome as a toad!” all with the permission of the teacher. Professor Poll will also share interesting facts about Shakespeare’s time and engage the audience in a fun trivia game.

Then, at 11:00, Michael Donnelly, of the K-State English Department, will talk about “Tinkering with Shakespeare’s Text,” with an afterword from Don Hedrick, also of KSU English.

At 11:30 the K-State Collegium Musicum will offer a Renaissance Instrument Petting Zoo followed by a concert of the musical ensemble directed by David Wood in the library’s atrium at 12:00.

For the scholarly-minded,TED-style speed talks will be presented by four K-State English professors starting at 12:30 p.m. Explore the world of the Bard with topics such as “Reviving Desdemona: Toni Morrison and Othello” and “Shakespeare and Comics.”

At 1:00, the library will be presented with a copy of the First Folio which will remain on display. Also at 1:00, get ready for a “Sonnets and Soliloquies: Open Mic” event with David Mackay and students of the K-State School of Music, Theater and Dance. Step up to the mic to show your stuff, or enjoy the beautiful poetry and dramatic readings from the audience. Copies of the sonnets and plays will be provided.

Then, the Manhattan Experimental Theater Workshop will present modern interpretations of short scenes from Shakespeare’s works at 2:00. At 3:00, the lights will dim for a showing of a modern film adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s comedies. The series will continue with more films the first three Saturdays in March at 2:00 p.m. in the library’s auditorium.

The celebration doesn’t stop there! On Wednesday, February 24 at 3:00, kids in 4th-6th grade are invited to explore the world of theater and improve with “Acting Out at the Library.” Children will play theater games and explore their dramatic sides at this free event.

On March 3, library staff and guests will meet at the Little Apple Brewing Company, located at 1110 Westloop Drive, for a casual Shakespeare Reading Party On March 3, library staff and guests will meet at the Little Apple Brewing Company, located at 1110 Westloop Drive, for a casual Shakespeare Reading Party. Guests will take turns reading through The Comedy of Errors with plenty of time-outs for food and conversation. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by the Manhattan Library Association. Drinks and dinner are available for individual purchase. As registration is required for this event only, those interested may visit or call the library to sign up, or use the link on the library’s website at www.MHKLibrary.org .

The Shakespeare Faire on February 20 is co-sponsored by Manhattan Public Library and Kansas State University. Events are free and open to the public. For more information, or to join in the fun, visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue. Questions can also be answered by librarians at refstaff@mhklibrary.org or (785) 776-4741 ext. 300.

Manhattan Public Library Partners with Hoopla Digital to Give Patrons Free Access to Digital Music, eBooks, Audiobooks, and More

Library card-holders can instantly explore, borrow and enjoy dynamic content on their smartphones, tablets and computers

MANHATTAN, KS. (Feb. 08, 2016) – Today the Manhattan Public Library announced a new partnership with hoopla digital (hoopladigital.co m). The partnership provides the public with thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, music albums, movies, television shows, and comics, all available for free mobile and online access.

Manhattan Public Library card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or IOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow 24/7, for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers.

“The easy-to-use interface and elimination of late fees enables us to satisfy our patron’s needs in a new, modern way,” said Danielle Schapaugh, Public Relations Coordinator for the Manhattan Public Library.

Manhattan Public Library is the sixth library system in the state of Kansas to partner with hoopla digital. Other libraries include Kansas City Public Library, Hays Public Library, Salina Public Library, Northeast Kansas Library System and others.

“With hoopla digital, it is our mission to empower the evolution of public libraries while helping them to meet the needs of the mobile generation. We’ve worked for years to create a best-in-breed service that is fun, fast and reliable. And we continue to secure content deals to expand our offering of popular and niche movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks and comics,” said Jeff Jankowski founder and owner of hoopla digital.

About hoopla digital

hoopla digital is a category-creating service that partners with public libraries across North America to provide online and mobile access to thousands of Movies, TV Shows, Music, eBooks, Audiobooks and Comics. With hoopla digital, patrons can borrow, instantly stream and download free dynamic content with a valid library card. All content is accessible via hoopla digital’s mobile app and online at www.hoopladigital.com. hoopla digital is a service of Midwest Tape – a trusted partner to public libraries for over 25 years.

For more information or to get a library card, visit Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, check the website at www.MHKLibrary.org, or call (785) 776-4741.

Beginning Thursday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m., Manhattan Public Library will offer a four-part Talk About Literature in Kansas (TALK) series entitled “Native American Mysteries.” Attend the discussions to meet new people and talk about these fantastic books or find out if you would be interested in reading them. Everyone is welcome, and snacks will be provided.

The TALK program is sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council and the Manhattan Library Association. All of the books in the series are available for check-out at the library’s reference desk on the second floor.

This year’s selections feature writers who have created ingenious, fast-paced plots, integrating Native American history and culture with crime drama. Each novel is a page-turner, sure to satisfy any mystery fan. Readers will enjoy exploring the cultures in the books, with distinct habits, speech, manners, folklore, and religion from each location.

DreadfulWater Shows Up by Hartley GoodWeather is the first book you’ll read together. The protagonist, ex-cop Cherokee Thumps DreadfulWater moves to Montana to shed memories of a killer who got away. He’s pulled back onto the job when the son of his new love-interest is implicated in a local murder. Trish Reeves will lead the discussion on Thursday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the library’s Groesbeck Meeting Room. Reeves is a retired English teacher from the Haskell Indian Nations University.

Next, in Dance for the Dead by Thomas Perry, explore the life of a woman who has an almost supernatural knack for helping people disappear. Seneca Jane Whitefield specializes in conjuring up new identities for people with nowhere left to run. When a killer stalks a young boy, Jane faces dangerous obstacles to protect him that put her powers to the test. Erin Pouppirt, an independent scholar and member of the Kaw Nation, will lead the discussion at the library on Thursday, Feburary 25 at 7:00 p.m.

The third book, The Shaman Sings by James D. Doss, combines Ute prophecy, scientific investigation, and Mexican fatalism to solve the brutal murder of a college student. Deborah Peterson, instructor of Chinese language and East Asian civilization at the University of Kansas, will lead the discussion on Thursday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m.

In the final book, Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman, Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navaho Tribal Police tracks a brutal killer. Three things complicate his search: an archaeological dig, a steel hypodermic needle, and the strange laws of the Zuni. The discussion will be led by Michaeline Chance-Reay, professor emeritus in Women’s Studies and Education at K-State University.

To check out the books and learn more about the reading series, visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue or call us at (785) 776-4741. See a complete schedule of events.

Author, historian and dress maker Linda Przybyszewski, PhD, will visit Manhattan October 22 and 23 to discuss women’s fashion and the changing culture for women in the early 20th century. She will make public appearances at Manhattan Public Library, Meadowlark Hills Community Room and Kansas State University.

Przybyszewski will discuss her book “The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish” at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 22, in the Manhattan Public Library auditorium, located at 629 Poyntz Avenue. This discussion, entitled “The Wisdom of the Dress Doctors: Dressing for the Modern Age,” is part of the Good Books Club at the library, and copies of the book are available for checkout prior to the event.

“The Lost Art of Dress,” is a thoughtful and scholarly work that is also witty, entertaining and unapologetically opinionated. The New York Times called it “…most delightfully and fragrantly packed.”

Dr. Przybyszewski will present the talk “The Wisdom of the Dress Doctors: Dressing for the Modern Age” again at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 23, in the Meadowlark Hills Community Room, 2121 Meadowlark Road.

The Dress Doctors were a remarkable group of early 20th century women who spearheaded a nationwide movement toward fashion that was beautiful, economical and practical. They reached out in particular to rural and working class women, offering advice on radio shows, at women’s clubs, in magazines and at 4-H clothing clubs, and teaching them the principles and skills for bringing thrifty yet stylish fashion into their lives.

The social upheaval and economic shortages of the two World Wars and the Great Depression also brought challenges to women’s lives in the first half of the 20th century, and the Dress Doctors offered practical wisdom and simple principles that enabled ordinary women to weather the times.

Also on Friday, October 23, the K-State Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design will host a reception at 3:30 p.m. in Hoffman Lounge, which is located in Justin Hall on the K-State campus. Following the reception, Przybyszewski will give a presentation entitled “The Role of Home Economics in Fashion Education in the Early 20th Century” at 4:30 p.m. in 163 Justin.

Home economics as a 20th century academic discipline grew out of the earlier domestic science movement. It studied the application of scientific and economic principles to managing American homes, and included research and teaching on nutrition and food safety, family and child development, consumer science, family economics, clothing and textiles, interior design and more. The Dress Doctors of the early 20th century, including K-State home economics faculty Alpha Latzke and Beth Quinlan, used scientific and artistic principles to teach American women to create affordable clothing for themselves and their families.

All events are free and open to the public. Copies of Przybyszewski’s book “The Lost Art of Dress” will be available for purchase at each event, courtesy of Claflin Books.

The force is strong in Manhattan, Kansas! On Saturday, October 10th, from 11:00am to 3:00pm, Manhattan Public Library will celebrate Star Wars Reads Day with an Empire-sized party for all ages.

For the second year, Manhattan Public Library is getting in on the fun of this national celebration with a full schedule of activities. The party begins at 11:00am in the auditorium with crafts and activities including Star Wars Trivia, a Yoda ears creation station, and selfie photo booths with costumed characters. Dress as your favorite character and make sure you enter the selfie contest by tagging the library @ManhattanPL for a chance to win Star Wars prizes!

Then, after you’ve made your Yoda ears, wear them to compete in the Yoda Impersonation Contest at 12:30. Have courage you must! Prizes will be awarded to the best impersonators in the kid, teen, and adult categories.

At 1:00pm, sit down for a few laughs at the Star Wars Spoofs screening, then cheer as the winners of the trivia contest are announced.

The fun doesn’t stop there! At 1:30, get your popcorn and Yoda soda, then settle in for a screening of the movie that started it all.

Star Wars Reads Day was started in 2012 by Lucasfilm and its publishing partners as a way to highlight the vast number of books written about Star Wars, its characters, and its universe. Last year, there were over 2,000 schools, bookstores, and (of course) libraries that marked the day with read-a-thons, movie showings, and creative activities that feature the beloved sci-fi series and its characters.

For more information visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, call (785) 776-4741 or email us at refstaff@mhklibrary.org. Find the library on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, too.